Happy Mother's Day

Cinnamon Waffles with Caramelized Apples

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there. I wanted to make something special for Aubrey's mom this morning since she's been such a great mother to him (and mother-in-law for me). I have a huge stack of recipe pages that I've ripped out of magazines, and I'm trying to cook them so I can thin the stack. This recipe is from a Williams-Sonoma magazine from several months ago. The waffles were okay, but I think I like the plain 'ol waffles are my favorite.



Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 8 Tablespoons melted butter
6 Fuji apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs, separated
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1 3/4 cups cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Whipped cream for serving

Directions:
In a fry pan over medium-high heat, melt 3 Tablespoons butter. Add apples, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook about 18 minutes. Turn off heat, and stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Preheat waffle maker on medium-high. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks, buttermilk, 8 Tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk flour mixture into yolk mixture until smooth. Beat egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute. Fold 1 cup whites into batter; carefully fold in remaining whites.

Pour batter into well of waffle maker; close lid and cook according to manufacturer's directions. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve waffles with caramelized apples and whipped cream.